MUSKEGON HEIGHTS — A Muskegon man who was sought by police as a witness to Friday’s fatal shooting of a Muskegon High School student turned himself in around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Zachary John Kennedy, 21, is believed to be a witness to the killing of Jaquan Norris, 16, of Muskegon, said Marc E. Curtis, senior assistant prosecutor for the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office.

“He is a person of interest who we want to talk to as a witness to the homicide on Friday,” Curtis said before Kennedy turned himself in. He said authorities were urging the public to report Kennedy’s whereabouts to police.

Norris was shot dead in his vehicle about 3:30 a.m., police said.

Authorities believe Norris, who was going to be a high school senior, was at the wheel of a black Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle in the 3100 block of Eighth Street when he was shot.

The vehicle drove into a fence and was stopped by a tree next to 3118 Eighth, possibly after Norris was shot. Neighbors said as many as four shots were fired.

It was unclear Tuesday whether Kennedy knew Norris.

Kennedy is currently on state probation from a 2009 felony drug conviction.

Four years ago, Kennedy — then 17 — also was one of two teens arrested after a complaint of fighting and shots fired outside the Cinema Carousel Theater, 4289 Grand Haven, early Sept. 2, 2006. He later pleaded guilty to resisting and obstructing a police officer and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months on probation, but later served time in state prison after violating his probation.

Kennedy also was convicted of marijuana delivery and carrying a concealed weapon in 2007 and possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance in 2009, with probation sentences in each case. Last November, he was sentenced to 11 months in jail for violating his probation on the 2009 conviction but was later released due to jail overcrowding.

Norris’ death was one in a series of street shootings and other violence that has plagued Muskegon, Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores over the past month.

It was not clear Tuesday whether Norris’ slaying was linked to a similar homicide Monday, the same time of night about six blocks away.

Jeremy Lewis Lawrence, 23, of 2408 Peck, was found dead around 3:30 a.m. Monday in a vehicle parked outside 2932 Fifth, at the corner of Fifth Street and West Summit Avenue.

No arrests had been made in connection with Lawrence’s death as of late Tuesday.

Muskegon County commissioners addressed the recent surge of shootings in the county during Tuesday’s board meeting.

Commissioner Bob Scolnik suggested the possibility of a 11 p.m. curfew as a way to keep people off the streets at night.

“Maybe it’s time to examine some type of curfew, at least temporarily, to let things calm down,” Scolnik said.

Board Chairman Ken Mahoney noted the unsafe feeling that is permeating the community.

“There’s a lot of innocent people living here, trying to get by, and they don’t need to live in fear,” Mahoney said.

The shootings also became a topic of conversation Monday night during the Muskegon Heights City Council meeting.

Dorothy Scott

Mayor Darrell Paige and Councilwoman Dorothy Scott talked about the need for the overall Muskegon community to help stop the problems.

“We do need help,” Paige said, referencing the large-scale issues of homicides, gangs and drugs that become problems in communities. “It’s going to take the whole community to solve the problem.”

“It’s going to take everybody’s help,” Scott said. “It’s going to take parents. It’s going to take neighbors. It’s going to take more than the police.”

Scott called on parents to ask questions of and keep track of their teenage children.

“It starts at home,” Scott said. “Where are your children?”

Scott also pointed out that the recent surge of shootings in the area includes multiple municipalities, taking issue with the reputation that has extended to her city.

“My concern is these people are not from our city,” Scott said. “It’s making our city look bad, coming across the invisible tracks from Muskegon.”

The anger, frustration and fear over the recent outbreak of urban violence being felt in the community also came up at the end of Tuesday’s Muskegon City Commission meeting.

Chris Carter

Commissioner Chris Carter gave a short but passionate plea for the community to begin talking of solutions that would end the recent series of shootings in Muskegon and Muskegon Heights. And he said the dialogue must lead to community action to stop the violence.

“My heart is saddened with what has happened,” Carter said of the shooting deaths, including two since Friday. “Adults and youth have to get together to find out what is going on.”

Carter said as an elected official, he will step up his involvement in bringing various elements of the community together to begin the healing. He asked the same of churches, social organizations and the schools.

“I appeal to you to reach out to stop the senseless violence,” Carter said. “It is utterly ridiculous.”

Commissioners also heard from McLaughlin Neighborhood Association President Tom Pastoor who asked for a meeting between citizens and Muskegon Police Department officials.

Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington said those talks should begin between elected city officials and concerned citizens and bring law enforcement officials into the talks as they progress. Warmington and Pastoor agreed to set up a meeting.

Funeral arrangements for Norris, handled by Fountain Funeral Home in Muskegon, were pending Tuesday.